The democratic majority sets an example: high-profile opening for the WELTOFFENES THÜRINGEN alliance
On 25 January 2024, the WELTOFFENES THÜRINGEN initiative made its début before a large audience for the first time in Jena’s historic town hall. The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar was one of the first supporters of this unique civil society organisation in Thuringia. The website www.thueringen-weltoffen.de meanwhile has over 4,500 signatories.
A media conference was held in the morning with numerous participants in the initiative, including podium speakers Renate Sternatz (DGB Hessen-Thüringen); Prof. Peter Benz (Bauhaus-Universität Weimar); Dr. Ulrike Lorenz (Klassik-Stiftung Weimar); Katya Glybowskaja (Liga der freien Wohlfahrtpflege Thüringen); Dr. Friederike Spengler (Regional Bishop Ev. Kirche Mitteldeutschland); Olympic javelin champion Thomas Röhler; and Sabine Klisch (Director Communications & CI Jenoptik AG). In their statements, the panellists spoke on behalf of numerous areas of civil society and emphasised their reasons for participating in the initiative.
You can find an excerpt of the media coverage here: Medienspiegel zum Start der Initiative
Christine Lieberknecht, former Minister-President of Thuringia, subsequently opened a panel discussion with Olympic javelin champion Thomas Röhler, Head of Communications at Jenoptik AG Sabine Klisch and Jens-Christian Wagner, Director of the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorials Foundation. The event was moderated by TLZ journalist Sebastian Haak.
In the afternoon, over 100 participants and supporters in several working groups at the networking meeting discussed how WELTOFFENES THÜRINGEN can become visible this year at numerous events and in various spheres of life. Strategies for the future of the initiative were discussed, as well as when there will be further campaigns and how other supporters throughout the state can be approached and networked.
Video-Statement für WELTOFFENES THÜRINGEN von Präsident Prof. Peter Benz
Photos: Thomas Müller